Having Iraq pay for the war...

[etothepii]

Does it seem like asking them to pay is kind of like seeing your neighbor in need, you go to help him out, then send him a bill for your services?

Some of my neighbors have trouble shoveling snow in the winter, so I go and help them out. I do it voluntarily. They do not askfor the help.I don't ask them to pay me for my time.

I know the priceof war (in lives as well as financially) is much higher than a favor for a neighbor. Thetwo don't even begin to compare. But morally, is it the same, or similar principle?

[mudhead1s wife]

I think that we should not ask them to pay us for us going there and taking over so that they can establish a democratic state, however maybe they should have asked them for reimbursement for reconstruction, but only before we stayed and started that reconstruction. It is bad form to discuss payment after the job is allready started. I would gather that we didn't do that because it allows us more space to do it the way we see fit. That is how I feel about it now, but to be honest I don't know much about that side of politics.

[hillbillyhunter1]

First off, are we asking them to pay??? Because I haven't seen a nickel of that money.

Secondly, I like your analogy. It may be like helping your neighbor shovel snow. Not because they are invalid, but because they've never used a shovel before. However, if it continues to snow, and your neighbor (while being fit enough) runs away from the shovel at the first snowflake, would you be as gracious as you are now???

[etothepii]

First off, are we asking them to pay??? Because I haven't seen a nickel of that money.

Democrats bring it up every now and again. It's in the headlines right now.

[Champlain Islander]

They have oil and money. All the costs for reconstruction should come from them. We are spending 12 billion a month to provide them with a democratic government. I feel they should be paying us 12 billion a month to keep us there. If it is truly for them and not us which is what Washington is selling us then let them pony up the cash. Since they aren't paying and we aren't asking it tells me that we aren't there for them. We have infrastructure like roads and bridges that need repair, people out of work and a failing economy. I feel it is way past time for a change in the Iraqi policy. Funny how the war was the main election issue and now it is economy. One drove the other.

[Lanse couche couche]

Thus far, we have "shoveled out" the driveway for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq when they were in need. Now that we are in need, it would be nice if they could shovel out our driveway by increasing their oil production and selling it to us at a twenty percent mark down.

[Aught Six]

The Iraqi government really has little money. They're hardly pumping, refining, or exporting any oil because the infrastructure is wrecked. Theydon't have anything else to sell right now.

[falcon]

"The Iraqi government really has little money. They're hardly pumping, refining, or exporting any oil because the infrastructure is wrecked. Theydon't have anything else to sell right now."


Additionally, the country is in debt upto its butt for the loans Saddamfloated to fight the Iran-Iraq war.

[Champlain Islander]

ORIGINAL: Aught Six

The Iraqi government really has little money. They're hardly pumping, refining, or exporting any oil because the infrastructure is wrecked. Theydon't have anything else to sell right now.

No money...oh that is too bad. I guess we could strike a deal and take the crude for a decade or so. Those people are pretty strange. Saddam thumbed his nose at the us and practically begged us to invade. Now that moron in Iran is thumbing his nose again at the world saying he has stepped up the centrifuge operations and advanced to the next technical level.

[DougMD]

We don't have the money either, just a giant credit card our kids and grandkids will have to pay. I believe their oil money should assist in paying for the reconstruction. Freedom has a price, and we shouldn't pay it ALL.